Ammunition link

ABSTRACT

An ammunition link having a plurality of clips for engaging and holding a cartridge is provided with hook and eye portions to interengage one link with another link independently of the cartridges thereby to form a belt or chain. The link is also provided with tab means at one end which is coextensive with the electric primer of a cartridge to effectively eliminate or reduce damaging effects incident to a radiation field or to other equipment in the vicinity thereof.

United States Patent [191 Clark [54] AMMUNITION LINK [75] Inventor: Harlan C. Clark, Oxford, Conn.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army [22] Filed: May 5, 1970 [21] Appl. No.2 34,785

52 us. Cl. ..s9/3s A [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 39/08 [58] Field of Search ..89/35, 35 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,009,419 I 1/l96l Clay et al. ..102/46 2,829,562 4/1958 La Rue ..89/35 R 51 Jan. 16, 1973 2,733,640 2/l956 Gilligan ..89/35 A 2,073,436 3/ l 937 Woodhead. l,305,160 5/1919 Prideaux ..89/35 R Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, l-lerbert Berl and Albert E. Arnold, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An ammunition link having a plurality of clips for engaging and holding a cartridge is provided with hook and eye portions to interengage one link with another link independently of the cartridges thereby to form a belt or chain. The link is also provided with tab means at one end which is coextensive with the electric primer of a cartridge to effectively eliminate or reduce damaging effects incident to a radiation field or to other equipment in the vicinity thereof.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJAHIE I975 3.710.680

INVENTOR Hnflun E E lurk A m A ATToRNEYs 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cartridge belt links and more particularly to a type link which is adapted not only for both side and end stripping but also provides a shield from radiation hazards incident to electrically fired cartridges.

Various types of cartridge belt links useful in automatically feeding ammunition to rapid fire weapons have heretofore been provided wherein the cartridges themselves are relied upon to connect a plurality of links to form a belt, in a manner well-known in the art. Such arrangements have been found objectionable for some applications from the standpoint that cartridge cases are damaged by denting as a consequence of loading and reloading operations, require excessive power for the stripping operation, andalso require removal or insertion of a cartridge to separate links from or connect other links in the chain.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved ammunition link which is semi-disintegrating and which can be connected with other similar links to form a belt or chain independently from the ammunition carried by the links.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved ammunition link for electrically fired cartridges which will guard against premature discharge incident to radiation effects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an ammunition link which will minimize damage to cartridge cases held thereby and reduce forces necessary to perform the stripping operation.

Still further it is an object of the present invention to provide a semi-disintegrating ammunition link the nondisintegrating feature of which is to facilitate reuse by elimination of the link reassembly operation prior to reloading and, at the same time, providing a disintegrating feature to enable separation or addition of links in the chain without removal of cartridges held by such links.

Additionally it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved semi-disintegrating ammunition link which is given to ease of assembly and mass production yet it is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and highly effective and efficient in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the ammunition link comprises a member fabricated from a flexible material and having a plurality of clips for engaging and holding a cartridge. In order to connect one link with another in the formation ofa belt or chain, the link is provided with hook and eye means. The hook means comprises a bifurcated member the terminal ends of which define hook members which are dispersed apart a greater distance than the eye of the eye means. The resilience of the material is such that the bifurcated portions of the hook means can be compressed sufficiently to enable insertion or removal of the hook members with the eye means. In addition thereto, the link may also be provided with a tab at the end thereof which receives the base of the cartridge. The tab is at least coextensive with the cartridge primer thereby to provide a shield against radiation effects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWING The novel features characteristic of the present invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood better from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an ammunition link in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the link shown in FIG. 1 and I with a portion of a cartridge disposed within the link;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the link shown in FIG. 2,

looking toward the base end thereof, and showing two DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein similar reference characters have been used to designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a preferred embodiment of an ammunition link 1 in accordance with the present invention.

The preferred embodiment of ammunition link 1 is generally a one piece member which is adapted for fabrication from sheet metal having a resilience characteristic commensurate with requirements of the environment in which it will be used. In general, the link comprises essentially retaining members 3 for engaging and holding a cartridge 2, and means 5 for connecting the link with other links of similar kind thereby to make up a flexible belt or chain of positively held ammunition useful with automatic weapons.

The cartridge retaining members 3 comprise a plurality of pairs of arcuately shaped fingers 7 disposed in spaced apart relation. The fingers are arcuately shaped to conform to the external surface of the cartridge case 4 and are of a length to partially surround the case. The free ends 9 of the fingers of each pair are disposed apart a distance sufficient to enable the cartridge 2 to be inserted from one side of the link as well as side stripped therefrom thereby to remove the cartridge disposed within the link. In order to keep the cartridges 2 in alignment in the chain, as well as for an additional purpose to be explained later, the pair of fingers 7 disposed adjacent to the base of the cartridge are provided with inwardly extending lugs 11 for engagement with the extractor groove 12 of the cartridge.

The connecting means 5 comprises a hook l3 and eye 15 combination whereby similar links can be connected together to provide a belt or chain of ammunition for use in automatic weapons. The eye means 15 is an integral part of the link which is provided by a portion of the material extending between similar fingers of adjacent pairs. The eye means is disposed outwardly beyond the arcuate surfaces of the fingers. The material is cut away to provide an opening or eye 17 for receipt of the hook means of an adjacent link.

The hook means 13 is disposed oppositely with respect to the eye means and on the other side of a cartridge retained by the link. The hook means comprises an integral, bifurcated'portion having two lines 19 extending upwardly between fingers of the adjacent pairs which are associated with the eye means. The upwardly is greater than the largest distance measured across the eye 17 of the eye means 15. In other words, the distance from an outside edge of one of the tines 19 at the junction of its respective hook-like portion to the remote end of the hook-like portion of the other tine is more than the greatest distance measured across the opening provided by the eye means. Thus, in order to engage the hook means 13 of one link with the eye means 15 of another link, it is necessary to force the tines 19 together an amount sufficient to pass the terminal ends 21 through the eye 17. Separation of the links is accomplished in the same way. Once the hooks and eyes are interconnected, the links are effectively non-disintegrating and will remain connected independently of cartridges to be held thereby. In other words, the links are semi-disintegrating.

In order to strengthen the tines 19 in directions radially with respect to a cartridge axis, outwardly extending flanges 23 are provided at right angles to the tines.

In addition, portions 25 of the link between the hook and eye means and the next adjacent pair of fingers are extended outwardly to form ribs. When two links are assembled, the flanges 23 of one link will be disposed between the ribs 25 of the next adjacent link whereby the ribs serve to offset twisting of the links and assist in I maintaining them in parallel stacked array d uring storage.

.Although the link of the present invention is applicable to various types of cartridges,- it is particularly adaptable to electrically fired cartridges. In certain environments, electrically fired ammunition is susceptible to premature firing as a result of exposure to radiation fields, particularly from signal or detection devices on board the carrying craft. In consequence thereof, the link of the present invention is provided with a shield 27 which functions as a barrier to effectively eliminate or reduce radiation to an acceptable level. The shield 27 is an integral portion of the link and comprises a tab at the end of the link which receives the base of a cartridge. The tab extends inwardly toward the cartridge axis and is at least coextensive with the cartridge primer 29 thereby to guard against physical contact between the primer and any component of the system which could act as an antenna within a radiation field.

The tab is also disposed a predetermined distance from the extractor groove engaging lugs 11 so that it will adequately protect the primer. However, the tab should also be of a size to at least partially expose the base or rim of the cartridge case so as not to interfere with stripping of the round from the link.

From the foregoing description, it will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art that the present invention provides an improved ammunition link which is not only highly effective and conducive to both side and end stripping, but also it is adaptable to fabrication in one piece and guards against premature firing due to radiation hazards.

Although, but a single, preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described herein, it will also become obvious to persons skilled in the art that other forms thereof, as well as changes in the particular form described, are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is desired that the present invention shall not be limited except insofar as it is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cartridge belt link of resilient material comprising a plurality of integrally connected, spaced apart I pairs of arcuatelyshaped fingers for engaging and holding a cartridge when pressed therebetween, said car-.

tridge including a primer in the base thereof, hook and eye means for interconnecting said link with other similar links, said hook and eye means being disposed between adjacent pairs of said fingers and extending outwardly beyond the arcuate surfaces of said fingers, primer shielding means for preventing radiation effects from prematurely discharging a cartridge held by said link, said shielding means comprising a tab extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the cartridge and disposed at least coextensive with the primer of the cartridge.

2. The invention as defined in claim I wherein said hook and eye means are disposed substantially diametrically on opposite sides of the axis of a cartridge engaged by said fingers.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said hook means comprises an arcuate portion bifurcated into two tines having freely disposed ends. I

4. The invention asdefined in'claim 3 wherein each of said tine ends extend oppositely to each other and within thesame plane thereby to provide hook-like portions for engagement with theeye means of an adjacent link.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the distance between the remote ends of said hook-like portions is more than the largest distance measured across the opening provided by said eye means.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the distance from an outside edge of one of said tines at the junction of its respective hook-like portion to the remote end of said hook-like portion of the other tine is more than the greatest'distance measured across the opening provided by said eye means.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the plurality of similarly shaped, semi-disintegrating links interfitting with each other, each of said links compris-,-

ing means for engaging and holding a cartridge, means for interconnecting said link with another link independently of the cartridges carried thereby, said lntercon nectingmeans comprising hook and eye means disposed to extend laterally and outwardly from a cartridge held by said. link, said hook means comprising a bifurcated member having two tines theterminal endsof which extend in opposite directions to an extent greater than the eye of said eye means, the resilience of said material being conducive to the engagement of coextensive with the primer of the cartridge.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said cartridge engaging means includes extractor groove engaging means disposed a predetermined distance from said tab thereby to adequately protect the cartridge primer and provide a shield therefor. 

1. A cartridge belt link of resilient material comprising a plurality of integrally connected, spaced apart pairs of arcuately shaped fingers for engaging and holding a cartridge when pressed therebetween, said cartridge including a primer in the base thereof, hook and eye means for interconnecting said link with other similar links, said hook and eye means being disposed between adjacent pairs of said fingers and extending outwardly beyond the arcuate surfaces of said fingers, primer shielding means for preventing radiation effects from prematurely discharging a cartridge held by said link, said shielding means comprising a tab extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the cartridge and disposed at least coextensive with the primer of the cartriDge.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said hook and eye means are disposed substantially diametrically on opposite sides of the axis of a cartridge engaged by said fingers.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said hook means comprises an arcuate portion bifurcated into two tines having freely disposed ends.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said tine ends extend oppositely to each other and within the same plane thereby to provide hook-like portions for engagement with the eye means of an adjacent link.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the distance between the remote ends of said hook-like portions is more than the largest distance measured across the opening provided by said eye means.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein the distance from an outside edge of one of said tines at the junction of its respective hook-like portion to the remote end of said hook-like portion of the other tine is more than the greatest distance measured across the opening provided by said eye means.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein the pair of fingers adjacent to said tab includes portions thereof extending inwardly for engagement with the extractor groove of the cartridge.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein said tab is disposed a predetermined distance from said inwardly extending portions thereby to adequately protect the cartridge primer and provide a shield therefor.
 9. In a link chain for cartridges having a primer disposed in the base thereof, said chain comprising a plurality of similarly shaped, semi-disintegrating links interfitting with each other, each of said links comprising means for engaging and holding a cartridge, means for interconnecting said link with another link independently of the cartridges carried thereby, said interconnecting means comprising hook and eye means disposed to extend laterally and outwardly from a cartridge held by said link, said hook means comprising a bifurcated member having two tines the terminal ends of which extend in opposite directions to an extent greater than the eye of said eye means, the resilience of said material being conducive to the engagement of said terminal ends of said link with the eye means of an adjacent link in the chain by forcing said tines together sufficiently to pass said terminal ends through said eye in hooked relation therewith, and primer shielding means for preventing radiation effects from prematurely discharging a cartridge held by said link, said shielding means comprising a tab extending radially inwardly toward the axis of the cartridge and disposed at least coextensive with the primer of the cartridge.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said cartridge engaging means includes extractor groove engaging means disposed a predetermined distance from said tab thereby to adequately protect the cartridge primer and provide a shield therefor. 